Citation

Lang T. J. Can. Soc. Forensic Sci. 1999; 32(2-3): 75-83.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Canadian Society of Forensic Science, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/00085030.1999.10757490

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A survey was conducted to examine the stock of 1L glass mason jars available for use by investigators in the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal (OFM) to collect fire debris in order to address concerns regarding possible contamination. Two jars were submitted by each of twenty-three investigators, and a minimum of two jars were submitted from six regional storage facilities, each with a brief storage history. Headspace gas chromatography (GC) was performed on all jar contents to ascertain if any contamination could be detected and, if so, to determine its level, nature and possible origin. The majority of mason jars (i.e. those from eighteen investigators and three regional storage facilities) exhibited no appreciable contamination that would interfere with typical fire debris analysis. Approximately one-third of the jars submitted showed trace level contaminant peaks in the range of C8 to C18. These indications would not be positively identified as known ignitable liquid standards using ASTM guideline 1387-95 and would potentially interfere with the analysis of only trace level accelerants made by this laboratory. These data were evaluated in relation to current OFM storage practices and procedures in order to assist in the development of a revised OFM Standard Operating Procedure for mason jar handling prior to use by the investigator.